Saturday, 29 October 2011

After the busiest week of my so-called career it is a pleasure to get down to writing the Christmas wine column for Counsel magazine with Sean Jones.
Two top tips to keep you going .
1. Buy 6 at Sainsburys and get 25% off. Their own label Blanc de Noir champagne is superb and comes down to about £12, less than half the price you would pay in France for anything similar. Their own label wines are great value; try the Pinot Noir for £4.
2. The best value in a red bottle today is the Waitrose 2010 French Chasseur at £4-35.It is delicious and would be a brilliant buy for a party . It is more elegant than many costing north of £10.

Friday, 28 October 2011

EPIQ is hosting a seminar touching on costs , Jackson and e-disclosure in London at 4pm on November 8th. there are already 100 acceptances but you still have a chance to attend. Just ping a note to dblaxell@epiqsystems.co.uk .See you there .

This was a happy event for the 2 sets that I am closest to.9 Gough Square collected the injury award whilst 11 KBW won employment , yet again.
There were 2 frustrating aspects to the evening . Every 2 minutes a flunky would utter a shhh that was louder than the happy murmurs he sought to suppress .
Jacob Levy , seemingly nominated for more awards than anyone ever , walked away empty handed and I had to spend my evening consoling him.Whilst it was a tad ambitious for his keen clerk to enter him for most glamorous female barrister ( under 30) award I did leave feeling that he had been robbed.
I had the benefit of sitting with Paul Reason who is the best company . Thanks to Mike at 9 Gough who has had a cracking year and we still Have the pi awards yet to come .

Saturday, 22 October 2011

Some months ago i wrote in support of the Bristol Mercantile Court Judge for no one else had. He was castigated by the Court of Appeal for taking too long to produce a judgment which was upheld in every respect.
It is now apparent that the Supreme Court has a significant backlog of cases and PLC reports that the Prudential appeal on the issue of privilege may not be dealt with for a year.It strikes me that a litigant is just as badly off awaiting a hearing as they would be if awaiting a judgment.
The solution is to keep the bench to 5 and let them crack on with their work. On a a salary of £206,857 each when last i checked it is not unreasonable to expect a bit of decent case management too.

Here i am with my 2 editors on the award winning 'New Law Journal' plus John Cooper QC who was over-dressed due to having been to Buckingham Palace before visiting the Lexis authors party.
It was decent of Chambers , who canvassed my views earlier this year , to send me details of the hot 500.
I have just been honoured with membership of the Legal Week awards committee; they are so thorough.
Finally , on november 24th it is the personal injury awards , the judging being chaired in magisterial fashion by Andrew Twambley .What a man.

The Court of Appeal has heard a series of appeals concerning the lucrative business of credit hire.I understand that the court is keen to produce a coherent set of compatible judgments and so we may have to wait until December to see the outcome.

It was announced today by 9 Gough Square that they have landed the great tort talent that is Simon Butler. With his equally dynamic contemporary in the same set , Stuart McKechnie , we are going to see some spectacular litigation skills displayed .

The Djanogly family knew a good earner when they saw it . The brother on law of our Justice Minister owned 2 claims management companies . Two children of the Minister were , until very recently , shareholders. It is wondrous that the light has been seen and Parliament will debate next week the ban on referral fees. To show that all is above board Ken Clark is now in charge of regulating claims companies, a short - term task.

Sunday, 9 October 2011

Here is a firm which knows how to look after staff and speakers , good
Champagne on tap at the end of talks .Christina Lambert QC did a fine stint . She is a lady who likes a good scrap .She won, yet again.

Thursday, 6 October 2011

Wednesday, 5 October 2011

Tomorrow evening 9 Gough Square Chambers and Paul Reason , the highly respected costs lawyer, are hosting a party for their respective clients at the Museum of London , Barbican, from 645pm until 10pm.If you would like to attend what is bound to be an excellent bash then do contact either of the organisers. I shall see you there.

About Me

" Legal heavyweight " Independent ."So so popular.Staff queue to hear him"-City Firm,May 2014."The greatest legal speaker there is "- Mike Napier QC.. "The God of the lectern"-Modern Claims.Special adviser to Lord Justice Jackson. ". "Captivating.You could hear a pin drop".The best speaker on the planet"-Lawnet."Absolutely amazing " PWC."The leading expert in the field of civil procedure and adviser to the top judiciary on law
reform'-His Honour Judge Simon Brown QC." "Awesome intellect coupled with tremendous wit". " ."Achingly funny. Brilliant ". "He is not streets but cities ahead of any other commentator ".
"The greatest living authority on Part 36,awesome". HH Judge Michael Cook.
"An excellent orator"-Lord Grabiner QC.
...Presenter of award winning Lexis seminars.
" His in -house talks are so popular that those off ill come in and we have staff sitting on the floor"-head of training,a national law firm.
Wine critic,Counsel Magazine.Columnist 'New Law Journal'.Special Adviser, A.C.L. Adviser - 'Tolleys ' Employment Law +Binghams Motor Claims.'.Professor .PLC advisory board.
Peer reviewer Oxford Uni.Press.